Adword's first page minium bid requirements is such a crock

[searchnology]

I'm bidding on a long tail keyword and there are only 3 freakin ads displaying for it and they still won't display my ad on the first page until I pony up a CPC that is three times higher than what I am currently bidding...Arrgh!!

[Lucid]

First page minimum bids are based on your QS. Also, the number of ads you see is irrelevant. I believe the system uses all advertisers of the keyword, worldwide, whether they are active or not. In other words, it uses a paused campaign in its calculations.

Your ad also has to prove itself. They don't just give you a good QS (and therefore low FPMB) just because you don't see competitors in your region at this time. It's important to remember that you are effectively competing with all advertisers using the keyword, in all regions, all-time.

The mistake people also make is that you are competing on similar keywords. If your keyword is "3 inch long green plastic widget", those bidding simply on "plastic widget" may still be shown if they outrank you.

As you say you are using a long tail keyword, check the keyword relevancy score portion of the QS. The system can sometimes be quite infuriating. If good, work on your ads to get highest CTR you can. You'll need to get clicks before the QS improves. If your position is in the first page already, I wouldn't worry about it too much. If not, you'll have to increase your bid, even for a day or two, just to get on the first page, get clicks and let the system adjust itself.

[Mike Anthony]

Originally Posted by Lucid

First page minimum bids are based on your QS.

Although thats true the whole thing is just rigged to give Google max money. God bless the people who do it but I could never see using CPC marketing on an ongoing basis for any of my online businesses. To me its something you do while you build your hub up and then you get out.

[Lucid]

> Although thats true the whole thing is just rigged to give Google max money

Well, they are a business and trying to make money as all businesses are. But to say it's rigged, I wouldn't say that. The advertisers are the ones setting the prices, not Google. And they want quality ads because those are the ones making them more money. So in that way, yes, the QS system is made to make them money.

[searchnology]

That's just the thing, my QS is at 6 and with only 3 other ads I should be displaying on the first page since the first page isn't full

Originally Posted by Lucid

First page minimum bids are based on your QS. Also, the number of ads you see is irrelevant. I believe the system uses all advertisers of the keyword, worldwide, whether they are active or not. In other words, it uses a paused campaign in its calculations.

Your ad also has to prove itself. They don't just give you a good QS (and therefore low FPMB) just because you don't see competitors in your region at this time. It's important to remember that you are effectively competing with all advertisers using the keyword, in all regions, all-time.

The mistake people also make is that you are competing on similar keywords. If your keyword is "3 inch long green plastic widget", those bidding simply on "plastic widget" may still be shown if they outrank you.

As you say you are using a long tail keyword, check the keyword relevancy score portion of the QS. The system can sometimes be quite infuriating. If good, work on your ads to get highest CTR you can. You'll need to get clicks before the QS improves. If your position is in the first page already, I wouldn't worry about it too much. If not, you'll have to increase your bid, even for a day or two, just to get on the first page, get clicks and let the system adjust itself.

[Dr.faizan]

This is the reason adwords is dying..